Jim Delany hints that Big Ten is close to announcing a new Detroit-based bowl game

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany hinted Monday that the league is close to finalizing plans for a new bowl game in Detroit. AP File Photo

ANN ARBOR -- As Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany officially announced the league's plan to head west with future bowl tie-ins in California on Monday, he strongly hinted that the league isn't forgetting about its midwestern roots.

Namely, Detroit.

The Big Ten and Pac-12 formally announced new partnerships for both the Holiday Bowl (San Diego) and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl (San Francisco) on Monday. And during a teleconference, Delany was asked directly if the league was still considering Detroit as a possible destination for a new Big Ten-aligned bowl game.

Delany attempted to be careful with his words. But basically gave unofficial confirmation that, yes, it is.

"We're not ready to announce," Delany said when asked about Detroit being a top target for a new bowl, "but you're in the right area."

ESPN.com reported in May that the Detroit Lions were interested in working with the Big Ten on a development of a new bowl, likely featuring a Big Ten and ACC team, that would be held at Ford Field and eventually replace the Little Caesars Bowl in 2014.

The idea behind a new bowl, of course, would be centered around growing a higher-profile game. The old Little Caesars Bowl (formerly the Motor City Bowl) partnership with the Big Ten was loose at best -- as the league only sent a team to the bowl three times over the past 11 years.

An association with the ACC -- rather than the Mid-American Conference and the Sun Belt -- would obviously be a bump up. And, according to Delany, Detroit would still be a top destination.

"It's important for us to put together a slate that makes sense for our schools," Delany said. "I can't tell you where unannounced bowls will be in our lineup.

"But let's just say we've had very good conversations with respect to Detroit, and we're still having those conversations."

Delany noted there was a "new management team" in Detroit working with the Big Ten on the specifics of a new bowl game.

He added that, at this point, the discussions are being based around the timing of the game, as well as television contracts and conference affiliations.

Essentially, the final details.

"Detroit is a city that wants to be in the bowl world," Delany said. "There are two FBS conferences in the region in the MAC and the Big Ten, there are others that recruit in the region and, obviously, there's a great facility and interest from television parties.

"When you have two conferences there, multiple conferences that recruit there and a state of the art facility you have potential (for a bowl game). But the game has to be put together in a market sense, so that the attractiveness of the ticket situation, television situation, timing of the game all have to come together from the involved parties to make it happen."

Delany confirmed Monday that the Big Ten's new bowl structure (beginning in 2014) will likely feature a three-tiered system. The Florida-based bowls (Capital One, Outback and Gator Bowl) will likely be joined in the top tier by the Holiday Bowl. While the Kraft Fight Hunger and the Pinstripe Bowl (New York City) will likely be placed in the middle tier.

It remains unclear where any new Midwest-based (Detroit?) bowl would be placed.

ESPN also reported Monday that the league is expected to announce new affiliations with the Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas) and Music City Bowl (Nashville, Tenn.)